The Natives of This World Are Fierce

Just as a desperate silence fell, a strange and steady voice rang out within the Secret Realm.

"Pathetic Tree Shepherd!"

This was not spoken in the Magic Language, but in plain Mandarin. However, the derision it carried was exceptionally clear.

Furthermore, the voice vibrated with Magic Power, allowing the Tree Shepherd to grasp its imperfect meaning.

’As I thought!’

The Tree Shepherd’s heart went cold. ’The Secret Realm Weavers really do know my identity. The whole concept of a "new world" was just a mistaken interpretation born of my own ignorance.’

"Doiman?"

The Tree Shepherd asked in a weak Magic Language.

Qin Xiaoxia took the initiative to appear, shifting from illusory to solid within the Secret Realm.

Although he had been briefly intimidated by the Tree Shepherd’s desperate, all-or-nothing power surge outside, now that he was inside the Secret Realm—which could almost be considered his own domain—it was clear at a glance just how terrible the Tree Shepherd’s condition was.

Facing a seriously injured and demoralized foe, it was fine to act a little magnanimously.

Qin Xiaoxia’s expression was odd, tinged with a hint of mockery.

"You think I’m an Elf?"

"Hehehe... Hehehehehe..."

The laughter was plain and unremarkable, with no special energy behind it.

But to the Tree Shepherd’s ears, it was like a hallucination that seemed to make the entire Secret Realm vibrate, even causing its branches to feel numb.

A faint purple Magic Power began to emanate from the figure before it, spreading over his body. Unlike the continuous, flowing state of conventional Magic Power, this purple energy was like countless crystalline particles converging, forming a state that was simultaneously whole and composed of individual parts.

Flames—flames formed from Magic Power—burned on Qin Xiaoxia’s body.

This was not under Qin Xiaoxia’s deliberate control, but a spontaneous change in the nature of his Magic Power.

It was just like a real fire.

The flames of Magic Power sent out waves of heat, delivering a distinct and layered oppressive shock to the Tree Shepherd.

"SZZZ..."

Even though it had long since given up hope, the Tree Shepherd was now stirred by a new wave of fear.

’Is this... Magic Power?’

’It’s just like a searing venom!’

Although the Tree Shepherd’s expertise was limited to the plant domain, its judgment was incomparable to a half-baked amateur like Doudou.

As an Elf that revered the Power of Order of Medland’s nature, any Tree Shepherd, regardless of type, was skilled in the Magic Power transformations of life and nature.

Therefore, it felt the danger of this strange, opposing existence’s Magic Power with particular acuity.

Just as Qin Xiaoxia had retorted.

The Tree Shepherd had never seen this kind of "Elf." Even expanding the scope to include all Magic Creatures that had undergone "Elfification," it was still unheard of.

In fact, back at the hospital when Qin Xiaoxia’s body was transforming, Doudou had keenly sensed that it wasn’t "Elfification" at all. But to this day, neither Qin Xiaoxia nor Doudou could figure out what that transformation was, so for the time being, they stuck with the more similar term, "Elfification."

After all, both involved converting to a new physical constitution of Magic Power and were a sublimation of one’s essential nature. In the grand scheme of things, they weren’t too different.

Besides, Doudou was also a half-baked amateur, knowing a little about everything but not much about anything.

But now, in order to bluff, he had to emphasize his unique points. If he couldn’t make up a suitable story, it was better to be taciturn. This wasn’t some cheesy movie or anime; why would the boss reveal all his secrets to you?

’Let it guess on its own. In this kind of situation, the more it guesses, the more it’ll panic.’

Qin Xiaoxia took a step forward, and the Tree Shepherd’s branches shuffled back a tiny bit.

Apparently, despite claiming to be ready for death, its body was quite honest.

"Stop pretending, Tree Shepherd. How did you come to this world? State your purpose."

’Purpose? What damn purpose could I have? I’m just an unlucky bastard!’

The Magic Power the Tree Shepherd had just released had dissipated, and the residual Magic Power on its body was being firmly suppressed by the Secret Realm. This made it exceedingly difficult to even use the Magic Language.

Every word felt like a knife cutting into its body.

First, it put on a brave front, claiming it no longer cared for its life. Then, enduring the pain and ignoring its life-threatening injuries, it rambled on, explaining its innocence.

In short, it could be summarized in one sentence.

"I was in the Realm of Darkness, happily cultivating vegetation and searching for places with light. Then some strange storm swept me into the barrier between worlds. I barely survived and entered this strange world. I wasn’t even happy for more than a few days before I lost half my life, and now I’m about to lose the other half."

Due to excessive Magic Power loss and being in a state where recovery was basically impossible within the Secret Realm, the Tree Shepherd’s Magic Language was somewhat intermittent.

But it couldn’t speak the native language of this world, so it could only communicate with Qin Xiaoxia in this extremely draining way.

After all, there was still room for negotiation; they hadn’t just killed it on sight.

Qin Xiaoxia roughly understood the situation. Although this thing was stronger than Doudou, it had also arrived in an involuntary state.

It was unlikely he would learn the reason for the changes in the Earth World from it.

"Good. So you admit to killing my kin? Then you can die!"

"Di-li-as~~!"

A phrase in the Magic Language, its meaning incomprehensible to the Tree Shepherd, rang out in an instant.

In a flash, the Tree Shepherd found its body completely immobilized. Strands of purple Magic Silk had wrapped around all the thorny branches of its body.

The red Shadow of the Secret Realm hovered overhead, looking down upon it.

BOOM~

Purple flames erupted and burned wildly over its body.

CRACKLE! POP! It was the horrifying sound of its branches beginning to break apart.

Hearing Qin Xiaoxia directly utter the Weaving Technique phrase for dismemberment and destruction—killing it without another word!

The Tree Shepherd was completely terrified. ’This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!’

’I’m a Tree Shepherd! My whole body is a treasure trove! I have so many uses! You could even keep me to squeeze for juice! I still want to live!!!’

The million attachments and reluctances in its heart were useless.

SZZZ... The sound of clashing Magic Power was less like searing and more like some kind of corrosion.

The Tree Shepherd began to struggle violently, activating all the remaining Magic Power in its body to resist its impending death!

"Ka, kado, kadoi..."

Whether it was begging for mercy or fighting for its life, it couldn’t form a complete phrase in the Magic Language. The Thorns supporting its body began to crumble from the base.

The surrounding environment turned a demonic red under the Secret Realm’s influence. The broken fragments often vanished within the Secret Realm before they even hit the ground, a decomposition rate countless times faster than that of natural microorganisms.

The Tree Shepherd was now filled with immense regret. It wasn’t regret for not resisting from the start—the outcome of that choice would have been the same—but regret for not surrendering unconditionally just a moment ago.

’Even though I kept telling myself I was ready for death, a miserable life is better than a noble death. Anyone who lives long enough to become indifferent to life and death is just someone who isn’t happy with their life. Normal people just become more afraid of death the longer they live!’

But that moment of hesitation...

’Regret!’

’Just because of that pitiful, pathetic, laughable bit of pride! I threw away my only chance at survival! What the hell is face worth?!’

At this moment of despair, a clear and crisp voice appeared like a sound from heaven.

"Big Bro~~ Stop~!"

Doudou stumbled out from somewhere in the Secret Realm and ran to grab Qin Xiaoxia’s leg from behind.

Qin Xiaoxia secretly broke into a cold sweat. ’Doudou’s acting is a little over the top, but at least he didn’t mess up.’

The Tree Shepherd’s absurdly resilient body and Magic Power made his previously invincible Magic Power feel like it had nowhere to bite.

In truth, while the quality of his Magic Power was high, the quantity wasn’t very large, and his ability to manipulate its form was at a rookie level. Even with the Secret Realm suppressing the Tree Shepherd’s resistance, Qin Xiaoxia was still finding it very difficult.

After all, he had just expended a great deal of spirit and Magic Power to use the Engraving for this Secret Realm Technique, allowing the Secret Realm’s power to manifest here temporarily. In reality, Qin Xiaoxia was just putting on a front.

There was no mortal danger, but if his bluff was called, the oppressive atmosphere he had worked so hard to create would vanish completely.

"Don’t kill it!! Didn’t you promise to spare its life?! AHHH, it’s about to die!!"

The Tree Shepherd let out a huge sigh of relief. The feeling of corrosion on its body lessened significantly. Clearly, the terrifying Magic Power had paused its dreadful attack because its master’s mindset had changed.

However, it didn’t dare seize this opportunity to counterattack. ’Death is something I brought upon myself!’

Doudou’s emotions were half-real, half-feigned. He was genuinely afraid that Qin Xiaoxia might accidentally kill the Tree Shepherd.

Shedding his usual timidity, he rushed directly to the Tree Shepherd’s side and carefully examined it with his own Magic Power, then sighed in relief.

After that brief struggle and subsequent reprieve, its physical condition had worsened. Pinned to the ground by the Secret Realm’s suppressive power, the Tree Shepherd weakly asked Doudou.

"Saroba?"

If it had tear ducts, it would have been weeping with joy.

It had finally seen one of its own kind. The Saroba Little Elf was an Elf unique to Magson; it wasn’t from the Dark Realm, and it certainly wasn’t native to this strange world. In this situation, the Tree Shepherd’s word for "compatriot" was absolutely fitting, especially since the elf had spoken up for it.

Qin Xiaoxia narrowed his eyes, staring at the pile of scorched Thorns on the ground not far away.

His piercing gaze made the pile of Thorns tremble.

’The power of life and death isn’t something a mischievous Saroba can control!’

’So what if it’s an Elf from an Otherworld? It’s only got one life. Being afraid of death is just natural!’

Qin Xiaoxia was already laughing on the inside.

PS: It’s going premium AHHHHH!!! This Friday, July 6th. I was mentally prepared, but I was still so surprised when my editor told me this morning!!

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